What is polycystic kidney diseases: an overview

Introduction

Kidneys are one of the most important organs in all animals, vertebrate and some invertebrates. Kidneys are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid base and regulation of blood pressure. There are various diseases and disorders that impair the functionality of the kidney, some of these disorders are either acquired or congenital. Some of them are horseshoe kidney, congenital hydronephrosis, kidney stones,, and polycystic kidney diseases and all of the kidney diseases eventually lead to kidney failure. This article will give you an over view of the polycystic kidney diseases.

overview of the polycystic kidney diseases

polycystic kidney diseases is an inherited disorder in which fluid-filled cysts form in the kidneys, crowding actual kidney tissue hence impairing the functionality of the kidney which in the end leads to kidney failure. There are two main type which include autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseases and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney diseases both of them are hereditary are passed from parents to their children.

People who have dominant polycystic kidney diseases usually have back pains, and sides between the ribs and the hips, have headaches, urinary tract infections, bloody urine. The pains can at time be severe or mild and these symptoms are not felt immediately after the cysts begin to for but much later.

People who suffer from polycystic kidney diseases have a high risk of developing sever hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension continue to do more damage to the kidneys and once this continues to happen it creates a likelihood of developing a cardiovascular problem such as an aneurysm or heart valve problem.

Some additional information

Since the symptoms of polycystic kidney diseases do not appear at an early stage it is not easy to be diagnosed under blood or urine samples. Digital imaging is used to detect the cysts once they are about half an inch in size and since it is hereditary if your family has a history of the disease it is advisable you go for regular check-ups.

Since most of the people that get polycystic kidney diseases is by hereditary means it cannot be treated but like most other diseases with the advanced technological advancement treatment is available to relieve the symptoms and also slow down the progress of the disease.

There are various ways to slow down polycystic kidney diseases progress which include reducing high blood pressure, reducing sodium intake to the body, having the kidney cysts drained, if you have a urinary tract infection you can take antibiotics, eating enough proteins and keeping cholesterol level down and mostly quit smoking if you smoke as it comes with a lot of health benefits.

Conclusion

There is a more effective way of eliminating polycystic kidney diseases which involves a healthy kidney transplant as the new kidney does not get infected or develop cysts when implanted into a person. If peoples infected with polycystic kidney diseases kidneys fail they can get the above option of a transplant or dialysis where a machine performs the work of the kidney.

By Hannah, published at 04/04/2012

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